Traditional Masonry Blocks Reinforcement with Cement and Their Relationship with Ch’ampa

Vitulas-Quille Y. · Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies (2026) · DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-24262-4_19

Resumen

The study focuses on the urgent need to build homes in rural areas that are resistant to natural phenomena and accessible to low-income families with low economic investment. This requires addressing the vulnerability of traditional adobe by stabilizing masonry blocks with cement to improve their physical and mechanical properties compared to traditional adobe and Ch’ampa. The results show a significant increase in compressive strength for cement-stabilized blocks (5%, 10%, and 15%) in compression, water absorption, and erosion resistance tests, with increases of 114.5% (with 5% cement), 127.8% (with 10% cement), and 169.1% (with 15% cement) compared to traditional blocks, reaching a maximum strength of 20.29 kg/cm2. In addition, a 49.3% reduction (from 22.39 to 11.03 g/min/200cm2) in water absorption was observed, which favors the conservation and durability of the blocks. The main conclusion is that stabilization with cement significantly improves the physical and mechanical properties of traditional adobe, increasing its durability and resistance to moisture, compression, and erosion, making it ideal for the construction of more resistant and durable rural housing, contributing to the safety and well-being of vulnerable families. This advance represents a significant contribution to materials engineering in the sustainable construction of affordable housing, revaluing ancestral techniques. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional del Altiplano